PERU — Selectmen adopted a revised personnel policy Monday night, adding sick leave for employees for the first time.

Town employees will receive five sick days per year and can accrue a maximum of 30.

Vacations will be 40 hours per year after six months of work, 80 hours after two years, 120 hours after seven years and 160 hours after 15 years. Also, social media use is spelled out more specifically.

The reasons for suspending or dismissing employees are detailed. Selectman Tim Holland said the reasons have to do with actions that would be detrimental to the working of the town.

Road Commissioner Joe Roach cautioned the board that having the employees sign the policy might legally take the form of a contract.

Board Chairman Laurieann Milligan said the purpose of having an employee sign the policy would be to have them acknowledge that they  read it.

The board approved the request of Roach to have his two employees receive a 2 percent pay increase. There was considerable discussion over how raises should be given. The consensus was that raises should reflect job performance.

Holland said a person should be started at a base pay according to qualifications, but any increase should be a reflection of the person’s performance and there should be steps to higher pay.

“If workers do a quality job, there is a need to take care of them, but we are always looking at the impact on the taxpayer,” Holland said.

Milligan said the board had been discussing the raise issue for several weeks and the board wanted to see longevity in employees instead of frequent turnover.

Selectmen’s secretary Kathy Hussey said raises are normally negotiated by the board.

Hussey presented an after-the-fact building permit for a garage addition. Former Selectman Bill Hine asked if a fine had been assessed.

The comment prompted a long discussion over the need for people to get a permit before construction began. Hine said fines had been levied in the past.

Milligan asked Hussey to check with the ordinance and said the board needed to be consistent. Hussey said the ordinance states that people can be fined up to $100. The board voted to fine the builder, Ceylon Putnam, a double permit fee. One member abstained from the vote.

The board has invited Regional School Unit 10 director Jessica Hines to attend the Jan. 3 meeting to update the board on some issues as they prepare the schools’ budget.